DOCUMENTARY

New Life Blossoms in an Old Village:
Seven Years of Struggle and Hope
DOCUMENTARY
2013
48 mins Episode(s): 1
English
English
English
English
The aging of Japan's population is steadily hollowing out the country's agriculture.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, a struggling farming community in Ishikawa Prefecture called Sugaike began trying to attract young residents. Hiroyuki Yago is one of the people who came. He moved from Osaka to Sugaike in order to grow organic vegetables, but there wasn't enough farmland available to rent and he has trouble making a living. Nevertheless, the locals have accepted Yago as one of their own, and he intends to stay. By 2012, there were three new families in Sugaike; abandoned land began to spring back to life, and a local dance festival that had not been held for 10 years was revived. Yago was there at the center of the dancing, cheered on by joyful longtime residents.
This program chronicles seven years in the life of a young man, who wanted to start a new life in the countryside by joining a community that is trying to adapt to the consequences of Japan's aging, shrinking population.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, a struggling farming community in Ishikawa Prefecture called Sugaike began trying to attract young residents. Hiroyuki Yago is one of the people who came. He moved from Osaka to Sugaike in order to grow organic vegetables, but there wasn't enough farmland available to rent and he has trouble making a living. Nevertheless, the locals have accepted Yago as one of their own, and he intends to stay. By 2012, there were three new families in Sugaike; abandoned land began to spring back to life, and a local dance festival that had not been held for 10 years was revived. Yago was there at the center of the dancing, cheered on by joyful longtime residents.
This program chronicles seven years in the life of a young man, who wanted to start a new life in the countryside by joining a community that is trying to adapt to the consequences of Japan's aging, shrinking population.
Customers who watch this video also watch
-
Wooden Barrels of Tochigi -Time Etched by the Color of Old Bamboo (Tochigi Prefecture)
2021 25 minutes[Colors in Japan] Tochigi City has a long history of producing wooden barrels for fermenting food. Despite the rise of plastic containers, one dedicated craftsman continues to make barrels using traditional techniques. The barrels are crafted from cedar heartwood and tied with local timber bamboo. Click here to preview this...more details -
Ms. Chii’s Little Band: Bringing Songs and Smiles to the Children of Cambodia
2012 2013 New York Festivals Silver Award. In this program, a female teacher from Hokkaido travels to Cambodia alone to teach music at the country’s largest elementary school in Siem Reap. She reveals the struggles she encounters in her efforts to help her students. Chigusa Tanaka (33) is a volunteer for...more details -
At Home with Venetia in Kyoto
2019 30 minsVenetia Stanley-Smith has lived in the Ohara district of Kyoto for almost 20 years. She is a firm believer in living in accordance with nature, and utilizes its gifts in all aspects of daily living. Venetia’s garden is filled with over 100 varieties of seasonal herbs. She uses them in...more details -
Shakuhachi Flute and Texas- Okayama Prefecture
30 mins[Beauty of Japan Season 2] Jennifer is a Shakuhachi (Japanese flute) master who originally comes from Texas. She says the beauty of the instrument lies in its ability to express nature. Birds singing and the sound of waves can all be expressed through Jennifer's shakuhachi. She mastered the ability to...more details